This lesser-known Ontario island has historical shipwrecks visible through clear blue water

When you think shipwrecks you may think of the deep sea, but there’s actually a handful right here in Ontario and they’re still visible. Garden Island is just outside the city of Kingston and it has shipwrecks that you can see through the clear blue waters that surround it.

The shipwrecks

When I first heard about the shipwrecks, I was thinking maybe one or two but boy was I wrong! There are said to be around 50 shipwrecks that surround Garden Island in the waters of the St Lawrence River.

One of the known shipwrecks is The HMS Hercules, which met a “fiery demise” after an unfortunate incident in its boiler room.

You can also spot the HMS Prince Regent, a vessel which sank after encountering a ferocious storm and a smaller steamship known as the Comet.

These are just a few of the ships you can spot through the clear blue water.

How to see the shipwrecks

One of the ways to spot the shipwrecks is via glass-bottom kayaks.

Blue World Marine Adventures offers an experience where visitors can head from Kingston’s waterfront to a Garden Island Ship Graveyard Tour.

Yep, you can check out all the history right below you while a tour guide explains the stories of the wrecks and how they got there – pretty cool.

Sounds like some ancient shipwreck exploring is in the near future, Ontario!

Garden Island

Where: St. Lawrence River outside of Kingston, Ontario